Public Statements

Issue Position: Safe Communities

Issue Position

We all worry about the safety of our families and communities -- more so than in previous generations, it seems that crime is just a neighborhood away and new, technological threats pose even greater dangers to our families.

Without question, Waukesha is still one of the safest communities in Wisconsin -- and still one of the best places to live, raise a family, and retire in.

I oppose placing sex offenders in our communities and helped lead the fight against the placement of one of Wisconsin's most violent offenders in our community. While he may still be in our community, with the help of the community and law enforcement, his mobility has been curtailed and is a negligible threat to his neighborhood. To this day, I continue to stay in contact with this man's neighbors to ensure that they feel safe and his movements are closely monitored by law enforcement.In the State Assembly, I voted to secure more resources for programs like the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and supported increased monitoring of sexual predators.

Additionally, my very first bill to be passed and signed into law by Governor Doyle granted new and immediate law enforcement protections for victims of harassment, elder abuse, and child abuse. That bill was the culmination of hard work by Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) and myself to secure the support of law enforcement and women's and children's advocate groups.

I have also authored legislation with Representative Fred Kessler (D-Milwaukee) to rein in the inappropriate use of global positioning devices. As these devices become more and more widely used, they are also being manipulated to harass and stalk former girlfriends, ex-wives, or inappropriately tracked by unscrupulous lawyers. Our legislation would make the use of GPS units on a vehicle for the purpose of stalking or harassing another person a felony.

As a community, we need to remain vigilant against new and emerging threats to our neighborhoods and families.